His Dead Wife Crashed the Wedding

I ran into my husband Ryan's two childhood friends at a coffee shopfriends he hadn't seen in years.

Just as I was about to say hello, I overheard them talking about Ryan:

Ryan's finally getting his life back on track. He's getting married again.

His ex-wife died shortly after they got married. Such a tragedy.

I froze in shock.

I'm alive and wellhow could I be dead?

And our son is almost three years old. Who is he remarrying?

After eavesdropping a bit longer, I learned that Ryan's bride-to-be was named Vivian Shaw.

I quietly noted the wedding venue and date, then slipped away.

That weekend, I arrived at the hotel following the address.

The venue was bustling with guests everywhere.

As I entered, I casually handed my gift to a receptionist.

When she asked for my name, I said coldly:

"The ex-wife, back from the dead."

The receptionist shot me a sidelong glance. "Why would you say something so unlucky on such a happy occasion?"

I ignored her and turned to see an enormous wedding photo displayed at the entrance.

The man was my husband. The woman was a complete stranger.

This wedding photo clearly cost a fortune.

Years ago, I'd suggested we get photos taken there too.

He'd said, "Wedding photos are just for show. Spending that much money is completely pointless."

"As long as we love each other and build a good life together, that's what really matters."

In the end, he chose a photography studio near our housethe cheapest package they had.

I spotted several familiar facesall relatives from Ryan's side.

I never imagined Ryan would be brazen enough to flaunt his affair right in front of his own family.

Glancing casually toward the main table, I felt my blood run cold.

Sitting at the groom's family table were Ryan's parentsmy in-laws.

Relatives kept coming over to offer congratulations. The two of them were beaming, their smiles never fading.

Fragments of conversation drifted over:

"Vivian is such a good girl. You can tell she brings good fortune!"

My mother-in-law, Zoe's smile stretched even wider. "Absolutely! Ever since Ryan met her, things have gotten better year after year. Not like that last onebad luck and short-lived, a total jinx. Ah, but let's not talk about her on such a happy day..."

Her words stabbed into my chest. After all these years of treating them kindly, I never realized they resented me so much behind my back.

My father-in-law chimed in, "I was against Ryan marrying her from the start!"

Who? Me?

"Well, she was the one who pursued Ryan relentlessly, insisting on marrying him. Otherwise, how would she have ever gotten through our door?"

"I knew it. Women who cling desperately like that are never quality. You get what you pay for!"

Listening to them discuss me like I was some commodity, I wanted to march right over and confront them. But I held myself back.

I'd settle this score soon enough.

I turned and left the banquet hall.

The bride was surrounded by several bridesmaids, preparing to make her entrance.

Vivian noticed me coming out of the hall and greeted me with a smile. "You must be one of Ryan's coworkers!"

My emotions roiled inside, but I suppressed the urge to reveal everything and simply hummed in response.

One of the bridesmaids grabbed Vivian's hand, eyeing the gold bracelet on her wrist enviously.

"Vivian, you're so lucky! Ryan is so generous with you. This bracelet must be worth at least 0-000,000, right?"

"He insisted on buying it. He said marriage is a lifelong commitment, so if you're going to buy something, buy the best." Vivian touched the bracelet, the corners of her mouth curling up involuntarily.

My heart felt like it had been punctured. When Ryan and I got married, I had nothing.

I'd suggested buying wedding ringsat least something to mark the occasion.

He'd said, "What's the point of buying that stuff? You can't eat it or wear it. You're not that materialistic anyway."

Seeing my obvious disappointment, he'd coaxed me, "When I get a raise later, I'll make it up to you."

Later, his career flourished and his salary increased year after year. He did keep his promise.

Every year when he received his bonus, he'd buy me a gold bar, saying it would be security for me and our son in the future.

Waitwhere did he get the money to buy Vivian a bracelet?

He gives me his entire monthly salary now, and I know exactly what his year-end bonuses are.

I was puzzling over this when another bridesmaid said enviously, "I heard your husband's company is doing really well. He gets hundreds of thousands in profit shares every year. Forget one gold braceletRyan could buy you ten of them."

Profit shares?

We've been married almost six years, and I had no idea he had company shares.

I've seen Ryan's monthly pay stubs. After taxes, 0-08,000.

Every month he gives me 0-05,000 and keeps $3,000 for entertainment expenses.

I never suspected a thing.

But apparently, he gets hundreds of thousands in profit shares every year.

Vivian suddenly turned to look at me.

"You're Ryan's coworker, so you should know how much he makes a year. Tell me quietly so I have an ideaI don't want him hiding money from me later."

My heart felt like someone was stabbing it repeatedly with a dull knife.

How much does he make? Don't you know better than I do?

The lion's share went to youa 0-000,000 gold bracelet. I wouldn't even dare dream of something like that in this lifetime.

I only just found out about those hundreds of thousands in annual profit shares.

And you're turning around to ask me how much he makes a year?

The muscles around my lips trembled. I almost lost control of my expression.

Vivian probably sensed something was off and tried to ease the awkwardness.

"Maybe you don't know either. That's okay."

"I've met most of Ryan's coworkers, but this is the first time I've seen you. You must be new, right?"

I suppressed the churning emotions inside me.

"Yeah, I just started recently. I really don't know Ryan's exact income."

One of the younger bridesmaids clicked her tongue. "Your husband is so great. Not only is he handsome and successful, but he doesn't even smoke."

Vivian laughed. "It's not that he doesn't smokehe quit on his own because he wants us to have a honeymoon baby."

I nearly dropped my phone.

During the worst two months of morning sickness, I'd throw up at the slightest whiff of cigarette smoke.

I'd asked him to quit smoking. He said he couldn'the had to entertain clients for work.

Three months ago, he suddenly changed. He threw all his cigarettes in the trash.

He said I'd always complained about secondhand smoke, so for the health of me and our son, he was quitting for good.

I'd been so touched at the time. Turns out he quit for another woman, not for me and our son.

Vivian smiled at me a bit sheepishly. "Sorry you had to hear that. These girls love to tease."

My emotions were crashing like storm waves inside me. I blurted out, "You trust Ryan that much? What if he has another family on the side?"

Vivian stared at me in shock. "What do you mean by that?"

The bridesmaids weren't having it. "Just because your own husband cheats doesn't mean you should wish the same on others, right?"

I laughed bitterly. "Actually, you guessed right."

Vivian's gaze held a hint of superiority. "My Ryan isn't like your husband. He would never betray me."

"Is that so? If this loyal, perfect man of yours is so great, where is he now?"

"He went to pick up some college friends who traveled from out of town for the wedding. He'll be back any minute."

Right on cue, her phone rang. "Honey! Where are you?"

The bridesmaids tactfully fell silent, and his voice came through clearly: "Almost there, babe. I'm so excited thinking about marrying you soon."

Vivian's face flushed red. She chided him playfully, "Just drive carefully. Stay safe."

The bridesmaids nearby heard everything and started teasing: "Oh my god, did you hear that? You've known each other for five years, you're about to share a bed, and you're still this lovey-dovey."

"Being affectionate is normal, isn't it? After all, we can only be together half the year anyway."

It felt like someone had clubbed me over the back of the head. My ears rang.

They've known each other for five years.

I don't know if I was too oblivious or if he hid it too well.

Noit wasn't that he hid it well. I trusted him too much.

I trusted him when he said the company was promoting him and he needed to rotate positions, working away from home every other month.

I thought he was ambitious then. I didn't want to hold him back.

I shouldered everything alonechildcare, cooking, workingwithout a single complaint.

When our son ran a fever in the middle of the night, I held him alone in the emergency room until dawn. I didn't dare call Ryan, afraid of disturbing his rest.

Turns out, during all that time "stationed away," he was with another woman.

The bridesmaids were dying of envy and wouldn't let it go. "Your husband is too perfect! Handsome, successful, doesn't smoke, affectionate, says sweet thingsis there any justice in this world?"

"Exactly! Does he have any flaws? Tell us so we can feel better!"

Vivian laughed as they shook her. She thought for a moment. "Flaws... I guess he makes me drink soup every day. Says it's good for health."

"And he gets up early to make it himself. Never gets tired of it."

Everyone groaned. Another devastating blow.

Every morning. Ryan never made me breakfast once.

Not once in six years.

Later, when I was pregnant and my belly was so big I could barely bend over, he said he'd wake up early to cook. He burned several pots of porridge trying.

No matter how much I taught him, he never got the hang of it. I'd always thought he was just naturally bad at cooking.

Turns out it wasn't about skill. It was about the person.

I stood there, my heart growing colder by the second.

The bridesmaids insisted Vivian was just showing off and demanded she share a real flawno more disguised bragging allowed.

Vivian bit her lip, and suddenly her expression turned serious. "There actually is something. Please don't ever mention it in front of him."

"Ryan was married before."

"His ex-wife and son... they died in a car accident a couple years ago. It hit him really hard. Even now, he can't handle talking about it."

In an instant, blood rushed to my head. My knuckles cracked as I clenched my fists.

In his script, he not only killed me offhe erased our son too.

Our son, smart and adorable, who just yesterday climbed on him saying "I love you, Daddy." To make room for his new marriage, he obliterated his own flesh and blood.

He was cold and selfish beyond measure.

If I didn't expose his true face, I'd be failing both myself and our son.

I was about to step forward when my phone rang. It was Zoe.

Everyone looked at me. I walked some distance away before answering.

"Claire, I need you to transfer 0-000,000 to me right now. It's urgent."

"What's so urgent that you need 0-000,000?"

"Didn't I tell you? Your father and I are helping organize a wedding. The bride wants me to be her godmother, so I need to give her a big gift. Hurry up and transfer it. People are waiting."

They were calculating against me to the bitter end.

The whole family was hiding this from me, finding Ryan a new wifeand now they wanted to use my money to curry favor with her?

I bit back my anger and shot back, "Mom, is she going to take care of you in your old age?"

Zoe's voice turned cold. "What are you talking about! I'm hosting a wedding here. Why are you bringing up old age?"

"You want to be her godmother, that's your business. Why are you asking me for money?"

There was silence on the other end.

A few seconds later, Zoe exploded, her words dripping with venom:

"Listen to yourself! You usually act so understanding, but the moment money comes up, your true colors show! Let me tell youthis is my son's money, and I can spend it however I want!"

There's a limit to bullying. I didn't back down:

"Don't forget, I work too. My salary isn't lower than your son's. When did my money become his?"

Zoe snorted coldly. "Fine. You're so capable."

Then she hung up with a sharp click.

I straightened my clothes and turned back, just in time to hear Vivian say, "Zoe said she's giving me five gold bars as a wedding gift."

My heart sank.

Five gold barsthose were exactly what Ryan had given me over the years.

The number matched perfectly.

The bridesmaids were still laughing and chatting. My heart turned to ice.

Laugh now. The harder you laugh now, the harder you'll cry later.

Footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway. Ryan appeared, surrounded by several people.

Music started playing in the banquet hall. Under everyone's gaze, Vivian slowly walked toward the stage.

Ryan stood there, back straight, a smile on his lips as he waited for his second bride.

When Vivian was halfway there, I stepped onto the center of the stage first, raising the microphone with an icy voice.

"Ryan, how could you not tell me about something as important as your wedding?"

The banquet hall instantly fell silent. The lively atmosphere seemed to freeze as if someone had hit pause.

After a brief, dead silence, voices erupted like a tidal wave.

"What's going on?"

"Who's that woman on stage?"

"Didn't they say Ryan's ex-wife was dead..."